J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  1999 Dec;6(3):559-569.

Effects of the supportive nursing care on the chronic arthritis patients: outcomes of the treatment for 8-week followup

• Kim MJ
• Jo KW
• Kang SS
• Song HJ

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of the supportive nursing care for arthritis patients enrolled in a rheumatoid clinic. To achieve this purpose, this study adopted a quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test research design, categorized subjects into experimental and control groups. Outpatient clinic nurse alloted the subjects by experimental and control groups and nurse researcher meets the experimental subject with in-depth, direct personal interview and advices via telephone for 8 weeks. During this pre and after the treatment period, the level of pain, uncertainty, self-efficacy, family support, and perception for health were measured. Analyses for the measured results for pre- and post-test showed that the supportive program conducted during this study decreased the level of uncertainty and increased the perception of family support in experimental group. So, the supportive healing interpersonal communication service proved to be effective and this result justifies the argument that the role of the nursing professionals at out-patient clinic should be extended for the more qualified care for the patient.

Keyword

supportive nursing care; uncertainty; health perception

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Arthritis*
Follow-Up Studies*
Humans
Nursing Care*
Nursing*
Outpatients
Research Design
Telephone
Uncertainty